UK public transport operator Stagecoach Group has started construction of a new depot in Hull city centre that will support the introduction of electric buses across the region, marking a major step in the city’s public transport decarbonisation plans.
The Foster Street Depot, being developed by Stagecoach East Midlands, will initially accommodate 42 battery-electric buses scheduled to enter service in spring 2026. The first tranche includes 32 Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-deck buses, each capable of carrying 73 seated and 26 standing passengers, and 10 Yutong E10 minibuses with capacity for 31 seated and 39 standing passengers.
The depot is part of a broader plan to deploy up to 120 electric buses in the area, with the site providing essential charging infrastructure to support the expanded fleet. Details of the charging systems have not yet been disclosed, and a timeline for the full rollout remains unclear.
Groundbreaking was led by Matt Cranwell, managing director of Stagecoach East Midlands, alongside Mark Ieronimo, transport and infrastructure portfolio holder at Hull City Council. Cranwell said the investment aims to improve both service quality and environmental performance. “Investments like this aim to offer a more reliable and more comfortable service, as well as cleaner air, for our loyal customers in the city,” he said, adding that the company hopes the new fleet will encourage residents to shift from private cars to public transport.
Local authorities said the project forms part of a joint effort to modernise the city’s transit system. Ieronimo described the development as “the latest milestone in our joint work to revolutionise public transport in Hull,” noting that the new vehicles are expected to deliver quieter journeys, improved reliability, and increased passenger demand.
Funding for the depot’s charging infrastructure has been provided through capital support from Hull City Council. The project reflects a broader nationwide push to electrify bus fleets as the UK seeks to reduce transport emissions and improve urban air quality.